Helmut Marko not so worried about Wolff and Verstappen conversation
- Sandy van Wijngaarden
Toto Wolff expressed at Zandvoort that he and Max Verstappen had met in the summer to discuss a switch to Mercedes. They quickly came to the conclusion that this will not happen in 2025. Helmut Marko is not so worried about this and explains the conversation.
Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff has made no secret from the start of the announcement of Lewis Hamilton's departure that Max Verstappen is his first choice for the empty seat at Mercedes. The Dutchman still has a contract until 2028 at Red Bull Racing, but there are options to leave the team earlier.
At Zandvoort, Wolff expressed that he and Verstappen have had a conversation about the possibilities for 2025. Soon there, the conclusion was that there will be no collaboration for next season. Christian Horner was quite surprised by the statements. According to him, the situation around Verstappen had always been clear.
Helmut Marko not so worried about Wolff conversation
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko expressed that it is not crazy that the two had a conversation. Such things happen in the summer break, after all. "They all live in Monte Carlo, so it is logical for them to meet and have coffee. I don't know what they talk about then, but Wolff obviously said some things,'' Marko said.
Asked by the medium if the Austrian is worried about Verstappen leaving towards 2026, he said the focus now is on the championship in 2024.
This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sarkozi
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